A survey of pesticide use in India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Laos released by PAN Asia Pacific (PANAP) reveals that majority of pesticides being used in selected farming communities are considered as Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) or banned in one or more countries.<\/p>\n
PANAP released the report in time for the resumed Fourth Meeting of the Intersessional Process for the Strategic Approach on International Chemicals Management (SAICM IP4.2) in Nairobi, underscoring the need for urgent action on a global phase-out of HHPs.<\/p>\n
In a report entitled Field Survey: Use and impacts of pesticides in four countries in Asia<\/em><\/a>, it was found that out of 36 pesticides used, 27 or 75% were HHPs[1]<\/a><\/sup> or pesticides that cause the most harm to human health and the environment. HHPs were 100% of the pesticides being used in Laos, 92% in Bangladesh and India, and 60% in Vietnam. Out of the 36 pesticides used, 29 or 81% were banned in one or more countries, with 25 or 69% banned in the European Union.[2]<\/a><\/sup> Farmers used at least seven EU-banned pesticides[3]<\/a><\/sup> manufactured and sold by EU-based corporations Syngenta, Bayer and BASF, exemplifying \u2018double standards\u2019 in pesticide trade.<\/p>\n The survey with 367 respondents also revealed conditions of use that cause serious health and environmental harm:<\/p>\n Among the report\u2019s recommendations are the following:<\/p>\n PANAP added that the upcoming International Conference of Chemicals Management 5 this September presents an opportunity for concerted global action to phase-out HHPs. PANAP is supporting a proposal for a Global Alliance on HHPs<\/a>, a voluntary, collaborative and multi-stakeholder initiative under the new SAICM\/Beyond 2020 instrument proposed by the African Region.<\/p>\n \u201cWe call on global policymakers to set bold targets to eliminate Highly Hazardous Pesticides in agriculture, prohibit double standards in pesticides trade, and make available to all farmers information on non-chemical alternatives, especially ecological approaches, by 2030. The intersecting crises of food, climate and biodiversity cannot be solved if we do not put clear limits on chemical farming and the control that agrochemical transnationals have over our food systems,\u201d said Sarojeni Rengam, PANAP executive director, who is attending SAICM IP4.2 in Nairobi.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \u201cThere is not much time left, if we are to meet Sustainable Development Goals to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution by 2030. As early as 2019, the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization[4]<\/a><\/sup> had said that HHPs have been phased out from many countries \u2018without affecting agricultural productivity\u2019 and that a global phase-out is possible. The time to act is now,\u201d Rengam added.<\/p>\n Download the report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Community Pesticide Action Monitoring surveys were conducted in coordination with our partners:<\/em><\/p>\n Shikkha Shastha Unnayan Karzakram (SHISUK), Bangladesh ________________________<\/p>\n [1]<\/a><\/sup> PAN International. 2022. Consolidated List of Banned Pesticides<\/a>.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a><\/sup> Banned or specifically \u2018not approved\u2019 pesticides in EU which are Highly Hazardous Pesticides and\/or banned\u00a0by\u00a0another\u00a0country. For more information, see Explanatory Note<\/a>.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a><\/sup> Propiconazole (Brand name: Tilt Super 300 EC\/Syngenta); Hexaconazole (Brand name: Anvil 5SC\/Syngenta); Thiamethoxam (Brand name: Virtako\/Syngenta); Diafenthiuron (Brand name: Polo\/Syngenta); Quinalphos (Brand name: Ekalux\/Syngenta); Fipronil (Brand name: Regent\/BASF); Imidacloprid (Super Confidor\/Bayer)<\/p>\n [4]<\/a><\/sup> FAO and WHO. 2019. Detoxifying agriculture and health from highly hazardous pesticides\u2014a call for action.<\/a><\/p>\n # # #<\/p>\n\n
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\nBangladesh Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK)
\nPesticide Action Network (PAN) India
\nThanal Trust, India
\nSustainable Agriculture and Environment Development Association (SAEDA), Lao PDR
\nCenter for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD), Vietnam
\nResearch Centre for Gender, Family, and Environment in Development (CGFED), Vietnam <\/em><\/p>\n